House

The place where someone lives. Its extended use includes a household and dynasty and its figurative use includes the house of God and heaven.

The construction of houses

Foundations

1 Kings 5:17; Ezra 6:3–4; Jeremiah 51:26; Ezekiel 41:8

Building materials

Genesis 11:3–4; Exodus 1:11–14; Leviticus 14:40–45; 1 Kings 5:18, 1 Kings 7:9–12; Song of Solomon 1:17; Isaiah 9:10

Rooms and decoration

Genesis 43:30; Judges 3:20, Judges 3:23–25; 1 Kings 7:6 Solomon's palace; 1 Kings 17:19 Elijah stays with the widow at Zarephath; 1 Kings 22:25; 2 Kings 1:2, 2 Kings 4:10 Elisha's room at the Shunammite's house; Nehemiah 8:16; Jeremiah 22:14; Ezekiel 8:10; Daniel 5:5; Amos 3:15; Acts 20:8–9

Roofs

Joshua 2:6; 1 Samuel 9:25–26; Mark 2:4 parallel Luke 5:19

Regulations regarding houses

Leviticus 14:33–53, Leviticus 25:29–34, Leviticus 27:14–15; Deuteronomy 22:8

Various uses for houses

House arrest

Jeremiah 37:15 See also Genesis 40:2–3; 2 Samuel 20:3; Acts 28:16, Acts 28:30–31

The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison.

Church gatherings

Colossians 4:15 See also Acts 1:13–14, Acts 2:1–2, Acts 5:42, Acts 12:12; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 1:1–2

Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nympha and the church that meets at her house.

Parables and proverbs about houses

Proverbs 21:20 See also Proverbs 9:1–4 the house of wisdom; Proverbs 9:13–18 the house of folly; Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 17:13, Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 24:27, Proverbs 25:17; Ecclesiastes 10:18; Song of Solomon 8:7; Matthew 12:29 parallels Mark 3:27, Luke 11:21–22 plundering the strong man's house; Matthew 12:43–45 parallel Luke 11:24–26 the return of evil spirits to an unoccupied house; Matthew 13:52, Matthew 24:42–51 parallel Luke 12:39–46

Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.

The house of God

God's heavenly dwelling

Isaiah 66:1–2 See also 1 Kings 8:30 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:21; 1 Kings 8:39 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:30; 1 Kings 8:43 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Kings 8:49–50 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:39; Isaiah 57:15; John 14:2

This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

The earthly tabernacle and temple

Exodus 25:8 See also Exodus 15:17, Exodus 29:44–46 the Tent of Meeting; Deuteronomy 12:5, Deuteronomy 12:11; 2 Samuel 7:1–7 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:1–6 David's desire to build a permanent house for God to dwell in; Ezra 5:13–16; Psalm 23:6, Psalm 26:8, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 84:1–4, Psalm 84:10; Haggai 1:2–3, Haggai 1:8–9, Haggai 1:14

And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.

The household

Household affairs

2 Samuel 17:23 See also 2 Kings 20:1 parallel Isaiah 38:1; Proverbs 31:21, Proverbs 31:27; 1 Timothy 3:4–5, 1 Timothy 3:12

When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

Examples of how God relates to households

Genesis 17:12–14, Genesis 17:23–27; Leviticus 16:6, Leviticus 16:11, Leviticus 16:17; Numbers 16:31–33; John 4:53; Acts 16:15, Acts 16:31–34; 1 Corinthians 16:15

The church as God's household

Ephesians 2:19–22 See also Numbers 12:7; 1 Timothy 3:14–15; Hebrews 3:1–6; 1 Peter 2:4–5

Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

House in the sense of a dynasty

2 Samuel 7:16 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:14 “house” is used here in the sense of “royal house” or “dynasty”. See also Exodus 40:38; JOS 21:43–21:451SA Joshua 2:27–36, 1 Samuel 3:11–142SA 1 Samuel 3:1, 2 Samuel 9:1 2SA 3:28–3:292SA 2 Samuel 7:25–29 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:23–27; 1 Kings 2:31–33 1 Kings 21:21–22, 1 Kings 21:28–29; Zechariah 12:10–14

Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.”